IRS service collapses after 30% staff cuts under Trump administration

A Mother Jones report describes the Internal Revenue Service as “imploding” after a rapid reduction of roughly 25,000 employees, about one‑third of its workforce, following a program promoted by former President Donald Trump. Reporters and taxpayers have encountered unresponsive phone lines, erroneous tax notices and an inability to reach IRS staff. Former IRS Commissioner John Koskinen warned that losing that many personnel would cripple agency operations, a view echoed by former IRS human‑capital officer Traci DiMartini.

The cuts were overseen by Frank Bisignano, a former finance executive appointed to a newly created “IRS CEO” role while also overseeing the Social Security Administration. Congressional leaders, including Rep. Richard Neal (D‑MA), have criticized the reductions, saying they sabotage the agency’s mission and leave taxpayers without assistance. The article notes that under the preceding Biden administration, the IRS had been bolstered with additional funding and staff to pursue high‑income tax evasion and improve customer service, collecting about $1.3 billion in unpaid taxes from wealthy filers before the cuts began.